Toxic substance discovered in storm-water drain
Patrollers discovered that a local business was allegedly rinsing the interior of its premises with ammonia and water, which flowed into the storm-water drains.
An ammonia spillage in Krugersdorp West could have resulted in an unfortunate incident if the local Community Policing Forum (CPF) patrollers had not acted as swiftly as they did.
On Friday, 28 October at approximately 11pm, a member of the public who lives in Stegman Street contacted Sector 5’s CPF to report a suffocating stench in her area. Later another resident of the area who lives in Voster Street also contacted the CPF to notify them that their dogs were barking and acting strangely.
CPF patrollers responded and upon arrival noticed that there was a strange odour coming from the storm-water drain that runs through Krugersdorp West. The patrollers jumped into the drain to investigate. However, shortly after they entered the drain they were forced to flee the scene by the unbearable stench. They described the sensation of being in contact with the liquid as suffocating and burning like fire. They struggled to breathe and their clothes burnt their skin.
The danger of exposure led the patrollers to further investigate the smell and origin of the gas and liquid. Patrollers discovered that a local business was allegedly rinsing the interior of its premises with ammonia and water, which flowed into the storm-water drains.
The business was contacted and the News is awaiting its comment.
Mogale City Local Municipality sent its Disaster Management team to clean up most of the ammonia and prevent it from spreading further down the drain.
No injuries or side-effects from consumption of the water have been reported.
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